Government approves draft state budget for 2026

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced this on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

"We have approved the draft law on the State Budget of Ukraine for 2026 and are submitting it to the Verkhovna Rada. Today the whole country must be either in the army or working for the army. This is reflected in the 2026 state budget," Svyrydenko wrote.

According to her, expenditures are set at UAH 4.8 trillion, which is UAH 415 billion more than in 2025. Revenues are projected at UAH 2.826 trillion, which is UAH 446.8 billion, or 18.8%, more than in 2025.

The deficit is expected at up to 18.4% of GDP, which is 3.9 percentage points less than in 2025. The need for external financing is projected at UAH 2.079 trillion.

Svyrydenko stressed that the main priorities of the budget are defense, security, and social sustainability. All domestic revenues and borrowings will be directed to the Defense Forces — for salaries to military personnel, support for their families, strengthening air defense, as well as development and production of Ukrainian weapons, including drones.

The draft budget foresees UAH 2.8 trillion (27.2% of GDP) for defense, which is UAH 168.6 billion more than in 2025. At least UAH 44.3 billion is provided for the production of weapons (ammunition, missiles, missile defense systems, aircraft, armored vehicles).

UAH 265.4 billion is to be earmarked for education, an increase of UAH 66.5 billion. Teachers' salaries are to be increased by 50%: by 30% from January 1, 2026, and by another 20% from September 1, 2026. From October 1, 2026, free meals for all 4.4 million schoolchildren in grades 1–11 will be introduced. From September 1, 2026, academic scholarships for more than 163,000 students will be doubled.

UAH 19.9 billion is to be provided for science, an increase of UAH 5.4 billion. Support is planned for young scientists, leading scientific institutions, research centers, defense science, and projects aimed at business.

The draft budget also envisages UAH 258 billion for healthcare, an increase of UAH 38 billion. Salaries of doctors in primary care and emergency medical care will be increased to UAH 35,000. Support for medical personnel in frontline territories is provided. The medical guarantees program will receive UAH 191.6 billion in financing (an increase of UAH 16.1 billion). Free medicines are to be provided for chronic diseases. A new program worth UAH 10 billion is proposed to ensure free comprehensive medical examinations for citizens aged 40 and older.

The Ministry of Finance noted that the draft budget was prepared on time, is balanced, and ensures stable financing of the state's priority needs.

As in previous years, after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, all domestic financial resources — tax revenues, customs duties, excise, and borrowings — will be directed to support Ukraine's defense.